Hongdae chicken feet with somaek and roe rice balls: Cheongnyeon 1987

This time I went back to Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch, a great spot to hit whenever a craving for chicken feet strikes in Hongdae!

This was actually my second visit to Cheongnyeon Dakbal — if you love chicken feet, you just can't pass up the combo of spicy chicken feet, rice balls, and a glass of soju… 🤭

Where is Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch, and what are its hours?

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch is located at 218-1 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open Sunday to Thursday from 16:00 to 00:30, and Friday to Saturday from 15:00 to 01:30 — great hours for a late-night drink in Hongdae.

Ordering the Youth Chicken Feet Set, flying fish roe rice balls and Chamisul

This time I ordered the Youth Chicken Feet Set + Flying Fish Roe Rice Balls + Chamisul! All the classic pairings you end up ordering with chicken feet, enjoyed together in one go - ♥️

Pickled radish and bean sprout soup come as the default sides, and honestly this soup is a lifesaver… when it gets too spicy, one spoonful and the heat is gone -

What is the Hongdae branch like inside?

The interior of Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch had a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere overall, perfect for a casual drink. There were tables set up, so it was great for chatting with friends over chicken feet, and it seemed like a solid stop if you're out in Hongdae looking for dinner or a bar. It especially had that chicken-feet-and-soju kind of vibe, so it was perfect for an evening visit to enjoy spicy anju (drinking food) with a drink 🍶

And of course I mixed in some somaek (soju + beer) along the way…!! That first sip is always the best.

How does the Youth Chicken Feet Set taste?

The main dish was the Youth Chicken Feet Set! Chicken feet really taste best eaten piping hot right when they arrive! As you work through the spicy chicken feet piece by piece, you naturally start craving a drink, so it works just as well as a dinner as it does as drinking food - especially if you're looking for somewhere in Hongdae to meet friends for a meal and a drink, chicken feet is a pretty solid choice ♥️ I ordered Chamisul alongside it this time and really got the full chicken-feet-and-drinks experience 🍶

Best sides to order with dakbal: rice balls and flying fish roe steamed egg

And you can't skip the tuna rice balls when eating chicken feet! Eating rice balls between bites of spicy chicken feet is such a great combination!

This one's my absolute favorite — flying fish roe egg custard!!! The egg custard with the little pops of flying fish roe pairs so well with the chicken feet, letting you switch back and forth between spicy and savory flavors..~ Rather than just ordering chicken feet alone, I'd really recommend ordering rice balls too and pairing them together 🤍

Looking for a bar in Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong?

Chicken feet is one of those dishes you think of first as drinking food rather than a meal, so naturally we ended up ordering Chamisul that night too! A bite of spicy chicken feet, a sip of soju, and some flying fish roe egg custard in between — it made for the perfect drinking-session lineup! So if you're looking for a bar in Hongdae and craving something spicy, this place would suit you well - it's great for a casual drink with friends, and also works fine as a dinner spot on a day when chicken feet is calling your name!

A lot of people end up moving on to Yeonnam-dong after hanging out in Hongdae, so if you love chicken feet, it might be worth keeping this in mind when looking for a bar in Yeonnam-dong too! Especially if you like spicy anju with a glass of soju, the chicken feet + flying fish roe egg custard + Chamisul combo is basically the unwritten rule… 🤤 That day I ordered the Youth Chicken Feet Set with flying fish roe rice balls and Chamisul and came home nice and full! If you're craving spicy chicken feet in Hongdae or looking for a place to grab a drink with friends, give Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch a try!